Logan Jones is the anchor for an Iowa football offensive line that could be very good

The former Council Bluffs Lewis Central prep put off going to the NFL, deciding to return to the Hawkeyes for a sixth season

Editor’s note: Third in a 9-part series looking at the Iowa football team ahead of the season opener on Aug. 30.

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IOWA CITY — Left tackle and one of the guard spots are kind of questions marks, though there are viable candidates.

But the givens on the offensive line for this Iowa football team are plentiful and plenty good.

Beau Stephens is a preseason all-Big Ten Conference player at left guard. Gennings Dunker was an all-Big Ten right tackle last season and is being talked up as a possible all-American in 2025.

And Logan Jones? A sixth-year senior, the anchor and perhaps the best center in the country.

“The center is the most important,” said Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester. “Not that any of the other offensive linemen aren’t important, but the center position, between what he does in protection, obviously the snap, the snap count, the cadences, we’re getting in and out of cadences.

“Another layer of the offense is a lot of changing plays at the line of scrimmage, changing cadences at the line of scrimmage. That’s kind of all old hat for Logan.”

The 6-foot-3, 302-pounder’s story is well told. He came in from Council Bluffs Lewis Central High School as a defensive lineman, redshirted as a freshman in 2020, got hurt in 2021 and then was asked to change sides of the football the spring of 2022.

He was Tyler Linderbaum 2.0, as the former Hawkeye from Solon followed the same path en route to becoming starting center for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. The only difference, and it was significant, was that Linderbaum’s move came in December during prep for a bowl game.

“Probably a month or two later than (it) should have, and I take ownership of that,” said Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz. “It is like (Tyler) Linderbaum except I didn't screw up Tyler's deal.

“Unfortunately we didn't make the move with Logan until spring. I think it was in January when he got back (from holiday break). But it just looked like we needed a little bit more help at that position, and he was the logical guy. That probably slowed his progress and growth, I don't know how many weeks. But it didn't take him long to get the feel for it, and he's really playing at a high level and practicing at a high level now.”

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Jones easily could have gone to the NFL this year but determined one more season in college was the best way to go. His speed and athleticism at center allows him to get to the second level in the rushing game, but his technique needs to be improved, according to www.nfldraftbuzz.com.

One more year working with Ferentz and offensive line coach George Barnett was too much for him to turn down.

“I’m surrounded by the best people, so it was a very easy decision to come back. Just another opportunity for me to work on my game for whatever comes (after college),” Jones said. “Run game, pass game, every aspect of my game needs improvement. This is an opportunity for me to do that. I’d like to continue to grow and get better from last year to this year.”

“He’s doing a great job, he feels healthy. If that’s possible, he’s moving better than he’s ever moved,” Lester said. “So it’s going to be fun. We’re not playing him a ton (in practice), we know what he can do. I mean, he definitely plays every day, but there’s no reason to overdo it. It’s exciting to have a returning center when you’re trying to have a good offense and growing.”

The battle for left tackle is between junior Jack Dotzler and sophomore Trevor Lauck. Sophomore Kade Pieper has experience at guard, with graduate transfer Bryce George (who won three NCAA Division II national championships at Ferris State) also likely factoring into the mix.

Iowa’s season opener is Aug. 30 at Kinnick Stadium against Albany.

“We're seeing these guys really grow,” Ferentz said. “That's kind of the way it's been in the past, like our guys get better as they stay in the program and work, if they're doing the right things. And I think we're seeing that with both of the two main contestants (at left tackle), Trevor and Jack. Both those guys are way better than they were in December and way better than they were, in my opinion, in April. They're not there yet, but they're there.

“Seeing some good things in the interior, as well, watching some guys grow there. We’re not there yet, but I think we have the opportunity to fill two big holes with Connor (Colby) and Mason (Richman) leaving. Those are big losses for us. Right now I’m semi-optimistic, but we’re not there, yet.”

Comments: jeff.johnson@thegazette.com